Eyes on sheriff race, more for Election Day

Election Day is Nov. 6, and the Miami County Sheriff’s race is one residents are paying attention to.

Current Miami County Sheriff Tim Miller will be retiring, so, no matter the results, there will be a new sheriff in town.

Miami County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Tim Hunter is facing off against current Peru Police Department Chief Mike Meeks to take over as the leader of county law enforcement.

When it comes to first moves in office, Hunter said he would focus on interdepartmental communication.

“Communication is the foundation,” Hunter said.

He also said he would assess situations and evaluate strengths and weaknesses during his term.

While results of the election would seem stressful to most, Meeks said he’s not sweating it.

“It’s out of my hands now,” he said. “I’ve done everything I can do.”

Whether it is Meeks or Hunter who comes out the victor, voters taking to the polls during Tuesday’s Election Day will have to prepare, according to Miami County’s First Deputy of Voter Registration Mary Kaye Jones.

Not only will voters be paying attention to the sheriff’s race, there are other spots on the ballots in which Miami County residents will be watching closely, such as the Miami County Commissioner spots.

Jones said there were lines the majority of Monday, in which her office had seen about 230 people by early afternoon.

“There could very well be lines at the polls,” she said.

She also said early voters showed up strongly this election season, with 24 percent – 5,225 individuals – voting prior to Election Day.

Jones said there won’t be any results leaked, however, because even those involved have no clue of what voters have been doing on the ballots.

“We won’t even start counts until 6 p.m. Tuesday,” she said.

For Election Day, voters need to be registered to vote and have a government-issued identification card in order to cast their ballots.

“Driver’s licenses are the best form of identification,” Jones said.

All polling locations are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Election Day, with results being counted immediately after polls shut down Tuesday evening.